Bush, Crist back ACC expansion move

BRENT KALLESTADAssociated Press

Published Friday, June 13, 2003

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush said Thursday he backs the University of Miami's bid to join the Atlantic Coast Conference and agrees with Florida's attorney general that states should not go to court to block the league's expansion effort.

Miami and two other Big East schools, Boston College and Syracuse, are being considered by the ACC for membership.

The other five football-playing Big East schools -- Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Rutgers -- have sued the ACC, Miami and BC, seeking millions in damages and an injunction against expansion.

"We have too many lawsuits in our society," Bush said.

"I think a university should be able to associate with any set of universities they want."

Miami president Donna Shalala met with top officials from the current ACC membership by teleconference on Tuesday.

The ACC leaders spoke again Wednesday, but have not yet decided whether to extend formal invitations to Miami, Boston College and Syracuse.

No vote will be taken on ACC expansion until at least next week, league commissioner John Swofford said Wednesday.

"If President (Donna) Shalala needs the support of the governor of her home state to support her decisions, I would wholeheartedly do it," Bush said.

Attorney General Charlie Crist, who attended Wake Forest and Florida State -- both ACC schools -- believes expansion would be good for the league.

"We ought to leave it up to the league and hopefully they can come up with a resolution for what's appropriate to the University of Miami, and Syracuse and Boston College," Crist said. "It would be good for athletics. It'd be good for FSU. It'd be a great thing."

Attorneys for the Big East contacted Swofford and the presidents and athletic directors of the ACC schools, along with Miami, Boston College and Syracuse, notifying them that they wanted to take their depositions for the lawsuit.

The attorney general for Connecticut sent a letter Wednesday to lawyers for the ACC, Miami and Boston College demanding they turn over documents or memos related to discussions regarding expansion talks.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said he would take legal action if he does not hear from the defendants' attorneys.